Selecting a College
The process of choosing a
college is a long and difficult one that takes careful preparation and hard
work. It is a
decision that will have a strong impact on the next forty years of your life. Remember, that due
to NCAA rules, during one school
year you will only practice for 24 weeks, play 20 regular season games, 5
spring games and possibly play in the NCAA tournament. Soccer should only be one reason you
choose a school!
It would be nice to think
that coaches will be knocking down your door to try and persuade you that their
school is the best and all costs will be covered. Unless you are at least a regional
player there is very little probability of this happening. It is up to you to identify a group of
schools that you would like to attend and then contact their individual
coaches.
What schools should I pick?
Look at the following
criteria and pick the schools that meet your goals.
·
Academics
·
Location
·
Environment
·
Size
·
Soccer
Realistically no one school will tailor fit your goals. The more
research you do, the more qualified a choice you will make. Make use of the following resources:
·
The Internet
·
NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student/Athlete
·
US
·
The library
·
Once you have selected a
group of schools contact the admissions office and the soccer coach.
What should I say?
All the admissions office
needs is your name, address, and telephone number. They will send you application
materials, viewbook and other pertinent information.
You should, however, write a
personal cover letter, and include a one-page resume. Your resume should include the
following:
1. Full Name
2. Social Security #
3. Phone Number
4. Date of Birth
5. Height/Weight
6. Academic Information
including SAT/GPA
7. Soccer Information including
position, awards, teams, coaches information
8. References
TIP: Please keep the letter personal and the resume
concise. Many
of the coaches that you will correspond with see many resumes,
DO NOT GO OVERBOARD WITH INFORMATION
There is a disagreement over
the value of a video. If
you have a game that has been filmed by a professional, by all means send the
coach a copy. However
if it is a field level film ask the coach first before sending it.
Once you have received the
information from the schools begin to narrow your choices. Do not apply to every school, as it
can be costly. It
is extremely important that you visit the schools that interest you. Set up a meeting
with the coach, see a class in session and try to get a feel for the campus. Ask students how
they like the school, even better ask a recent
graduate what it’s like to go to that school.
Tip:
Ask the alumnus when they graduated – most schools
have changed significantly over the last 10 to15 years.
As you narrow your choice
even more, you should look at the financial aspects.
In virtually every school a significant amount of financial aid is awarded.
This can be a combination of:
·
Grants
·
Loans
·
Federal Aid
·
Institutional Aid
·
State Scholarships
·
Athletic Scholarships
It is imperative that you
fill out the FAF form in December of your senior year. This is a standardized financial form from
which colleges can assess your financial need.
Tip: It is
quite an involved process, do not eliminate your
family if you feel you will not receive any aid.
Once you have applied and
been accepted you will have a period of time to make a
decision.
Tip: Go back to your
original list of why you selected that group of colleges and prioritize your goals.
SOME RECRUITING RULES:
·
A College coach cannot contact you in person (including phone calls)
before you have completed your junior year.
·
Only in Division II can you try out with the team
·
Unless the college pays for your visit you can visit a school as many
times as you wish
·
A member of the school’s athletic staff can only do recruiting
·
A coach cannot talk to you during a game or tournament
·
You cannot participate in collegiate athletics- irrespective of
scholarship- unless the NCAA Clearinghouse has certified you.
Scholarship Opportunities:
Despite the rise in popularity of the game, scholarships have not risen
proportionally. Most coaches do not operate with their allowed allotment. Therefore they try
to break up scholarships and to find alternative financial avenues for their
players. Do not
take the attitude that unless I get a scholarship the coach doesn’t want me. You may make a bad
mistake and miss out on the right school for you. There were many players in this year’s collegiate championships who did not receive a
substantial scholarship their first year.
Tip:
Do not worry about your peers and their “scholarship
offers”. Each
program is different, some coaches are looking for one type of player (i.e.:
Goalkeeper) or perhaps that school has packaged an athletic and financial aid
award together. It
is not an ego contest, rather where will you get the right college experience
for you.
SHOULD I USE A RECRUITING
SERVICE?
There are many services out
there that
vary in quality. Remember that a coach may receive over 100 resumes a week from
these services and trying to stand out amongst those is extremely difficult. The ODP system,
although not perfect, does give coaches from other states an idea of your
abilities.
WHAT TO ASK ON A VISIT
The Coach:
·
How many seniors do you have?
·
Describe the preferred, invited, and uninvited walk
on situation?
·
Ratio of walk ons to scholarship players?
·
Describe the typical day of a student athlete?
·
What is the GPA of the team?
Admissions Department:
·
What is your academic support system?
·
What are the residence halls like?
·
How good is the department in my major?
·
What is the retention rate?
Current player on the team.
·
Do you enjoy the experience?
·
Do you feel you are improving as a player and a person?
·
How is the school academically and socially?
·
Is the program what you expected it to be?
·
Would you make the same decision if you had to do it over again?
